CHEROKEE BIBLE

AIRED: Season 3, Episode 4
THE DETECTIVES: Gwen Wright, Elyse Luray
THE PLACE: Austin, Texas

THE CASE:

A Texan of Cherokee descent inherits a mysterious bible from her father.

Having grown up speaking only English, she is intrigued by what appears to be Cherokee writing in the bible, and wants to learn more about her own family's history.

This native language was "invented" by a Cherokee Indian named Sequoyah in the early 1800s in a desperate effort to win the respect of the U.S. authorities for his people.

While Sequoyah succeeded in establishing literacy rates far in excess of the encroaching white settlers, the Cherokee were ultimately forced to march on the infamous "Trail of Tears" to Oklahoma.

History Detectives learns more about one of the most tragic events in U.S. history as they head to Oklahoma and Tennessee to tackle the genealogical mystery behind our contributor's bible.

Cherokee Bible (PDF File 104K)
(requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

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